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Sedation with detomidine and acepromazine influences the endoscopic evaluation of laryngeal function in horses.
Abstract: Endoscopy of the upper airways of horses is used as a diagnostic tool and at purchase examinations. On some occasions it is necessary to use sedation during the procedure and it is often speculated that the result of the examination might be influenced due to the muscle-relaxing properties of the most commonly used sedatives. Objective: To evaluate the effect of detomidine (0.01 mg/kg bwt) and acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg bwt) on the appearance of symmetry of rima glottidis, ability to abduct maximally the arytenoid cartilages and the effect on recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) grade. Methods: Forty-two apparently normal horses underwent endoscopic examination of the upper airways on 3 different occasions, under the influence of 3 different treatments: no sedation (control), sedation with detomidine and sedation with acepromazine. All examinations were performed with a minimum of one week apart. The study was performed as an observer-blind cross-over study. Results: Sedation with detomidine had a significant effect on the RLN grading (OR = 2.91) and ability maximally to abduct the left arytenoid cartilages (OR = 2.91). Sedation with acepromazine resulted in OR = 2.43 for the RLN grading and OR = 2.22 for the ability to abduct maximally. The ability to abduct maximally the right arytenoid cartilage was not altered. Conclusions: Sedating apparently healthy horses with detomidine or acepromazine significantly impairs these horses' ability to abduct fully the left but not the right arytenoid cartilage. This resulted in different diagnosis with respect to RLN when comparing sedation to no sedation. Conclusions: Since the ability to abduct the right arytenoid cartilage fully is not altered by sedation, it is speculated that horses changing from normal to abnormal laryngeal function when sedated, might be horses in an early stage of the disease. To confirm or reject these speculations, further studies are needed. Until then sedation during endoscopy should be used with care.
Publication Date: 2007-12-11 PubMed ID: 18065315DOI: 10.2746/042516407X204177Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
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The research paper discusses how the sedatives detomidine and acepromazine influence the outcome of endoscopic evaluations of laryngeal function in horses.
Study Objective
The main objective of this research was to assess the effects of two sedatives, detomidine and acepromazine, on the symmetry of the horse’s rima glottidis and the ability to maximally abduct the arytenoid cartilages. Additionally, the study also aimed to determine the effects on the recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) grade.
Methodology
- The study involved 42 apparently healthy horses which underwent endoscopic examinations of their upper airways on three different occasions. These exams were conducted with different conditions: without sedation, sedation with detomidine, and sedation with acepromazine.
- All tests were performed at intervals greater than one week.
- The study was conducted as an observer-blind cross-over study, which means neither the horse handlers nor the horses were aware of the sedation condition during each test. This approach minimizes the risk of bias in the results.
Results
- Sedation with detomidine had a significant effect on the RLN grading and ability to maximally abduct the left arytenoid cartilages.
- Acepromazine also significantly affected the RLN grading and the ability for maximal abduction. However, the ability to maximally abduct the right arytenoid cartilage was not affected by either sedative.
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that sedating healthy horses with either detomidine or acepromazine significantly impairs their ability to maximally abduct the left, but not right, arytenoid cartilage. This impairment had a subsequent influence on the RLN grading.
Implications
The study speculates that horses that demonstrate changes from normal to abnormal laryngeal function might be in an early stage of disease. For a confirmation of this speculation, more in-depth studies are encouraged. In the meantime, the study recommends careful use of sedation during endoscopic examination of horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Lindegaard C, Husted L, Ullum H, Fjeldborg J.
(2007).
Sedation with detomidine and acepromazine influences the endoscopic evaluation of laryngeal function in horses.
Equine Vet J, 39(6), 553-556.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407X204177 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Dyrlaegevej 48, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Acepromazine / administration & dosage
- Acepromazine / adverse effects
- Animals
- Arytenoid Cartilage / drug effects
- Arytenoid Cartilage / physiology
- Confidence Intervals
- Cross-Over Studies
- Horses
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / adverse effects
- Imidazoles / administration & dosage
- Imidazoles / adverse effects
- Laryngoscopy / methods
- Laryngoscopy / veterinary
- Larynx / drug effects
- Larynx / physiology
- Odds Ratio
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Cheetham J, Regner A, Jarvis JC, Priest D, Sanders I, Soderholm LV, Mitchell LM, Ducharme NG. Functional electrical stimulation of intrinsic laryngeal muscles under varying loads in exercising horses. PLoS One 2011;6(8):e24258.
- Al Shehab G, Naji R, Alali F, Alali A, Allowaim A, Almohammed A, Aljasim D, Alkhalifah A, Alhammad YMA, Marzok M, Mohamad ZA, Almuhanna AH. Laryngoscopic evaluation of arytenoid movements in pure Arabian horses. Open Vet J 2025 Jun;15(6):2875-2881.
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